Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-08-31
The Responsibility.

The Republican party has for its unvary-
ing purpose the Capitalization OF the Gov
eminent. It is avarioious' and unscrupu-
lous in it's exercise of power, as illustrated
by its ofice-holders and the party in as
Stunning responsibility to any degree to &C
complish its ends. Whenever entrusted
with authority, the chief interest always
developed into desire to know the extent
of endurance that could be borne to satisfy
the demand for gain.
To the agricultural interest of the coun-
try the Republican policy says, clock to
home markets to take up the surplus OF
production" 1t says from rich corpora
tions and protected manufacturers will ger
inmate policy that will turn nation OF
producers into one of consumers of bread
and meat-supplies. We have had that
policy more or less in force for seventy
years and realized that protection has long
since accomplished its original purpose,
and that through its abuse, it has reversed
the doctrine, and the assurance made to
the farmer that he will find through it
ready market for his surplus produce, and,
that which is of equal concern to him, a
certain and cheap supply of all he has to
purchase. The farmer in reality finds his
opportunities to sell, and his privileges to
buy, both circumscribed, and the promised
blessings become expensive decisions, en-
failing increased prices when buying, and
compelling to take annually diminishing
compensation for his products.
The policy of our Government should
have been equal to the increasing agricul-
tural production of the developing and
widening country. The export of valuable
productions should have received closer at
tention, and it was mistaken statesman
ship which endeavored to institute policy
of home-consumption, equal to the annu-
ally increasing surplus.
1t is a wide and open commerce only
that will and can save the agricultural
interests of our country from ruin.
The Republican party had twenty Live
years of rule and failed to make the leas,
provision for the agricultural interest
which chiefly sustains the Government
On the contrary, its policy has been to heaI
burdens upon it, that monopolists, and its
hordes of officers and suppliants might re
ceive the spoils as centralizing power con
tinued to increase the opportunity to satisfy
greed.
A change has taken place since Demo
cratic administration has to some extern
directed the affairs of Government. Tht
producing interests of the country have
been heard through their representatives a.
Washington. A few years more continu
ing as the commencement has been made
and wonderful changes will be made. a
great country capable of exporting more
grain than all others combined, being with
out navy or merchant marine, presents
spectacle before the nations of the eartf
truly notifying. The Republican party il
responsible for this condition of things
both in its false political economy and it
avaricious greed, to satiate which it has
and would again, if allowed, make the pro
ducing interests support monopolies ant
favored classes.
The Democratic Administration has com
menced line of policy which will give The
country naval force, something like tina
which it should have. Merchant vessels
bearing our flag will increase, and in tint
we may have, under proper legislation ant
commercial regulations, an expanding trade
which will be worthy of our country ant
its products, that became burden because
of the failure to seek openings for their de
livery to the millions who want them.